No Zhonya Morgana Support

Moisty Toast·4/22/2016, 4:19:35 PM·4 votes·2,723 views

So, I play an UNGODLY amount of Morgana support. I don't get Zhonyas. People are always raging at me for it, but honestly I don't like Zhonya on her as support. I go for the ZZRot/Banner combo and it seems to work out a lot better for me, as I usually lose games when I go for the Zhonya (Usually because I try and control lanes more with the ZZRot/Banner while forcing team fights) So, do I just play Morgana differently, or is ZZRot/Banner better? I'm open to change up how I play if someone can explain it to me, but I feel this build path is a more efficient and more team oriented build. I get that Zhonya lets you invuln during ulti, but it also gives them a fairly easy escape if your team doesnt have heavy CC to keep them in.

18 Comments

SimonChang4/22/2016, 4:26:29 PM3 votes

It's all team comp however I agree with you 80 percent of the time not building it is the right option say they have a big front line with a lot of damage like a xin voli combo then zhonyas is great in ensuring you help peel for your adc while staying alive in the process. Just black shield the adc ult the xin and voli then zhonyas before you get chained cc'd

Tolfor4/22/2016, 4:26:08 PM2 votes

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I get that Zhonya lets you invuln during ulti, but it also gives them a fairly easy escape if your team doesnt have heavy CC to keep them in.

That would be true if you're assuming that you're activating Zhonya's immediately after Morg's ultimate in the middle of a wide open area where enemy champions can run in a straight line to break the tether. However, the whole point is that you're supposed to use Zhonya's a second or two after activating your ult, so that you can move to keep up with the enemy team briefly after slowing them, and then turn invulnerable before they can turn around and start beating you up.

You should also be using it strategically near walls and in tight spaces (such as in the jungle) so that the enemy champs can't maneuver out of your range in time, even without additional CC. If there's a particular champion who you're trying to pin down due to them having a dash or a blink, Q them first. You don't really need "Heavy CC" to keep people in Morg's ult while stationary; just a bit of planning and communication with your team.

ShinobisDemon4/22/2016, 4:28:26 PM2 votes

I used to main morg supp for a while (s4-s5) and I still play it in tournaments sometimes so i'll do my best to explain.

The reason you take zhonya's over banner of command is simply that morgana is really op.

You want to use that to your advantage by getting items with AP in them that allow you to utilize your ult.

a good build path for her (if you're destroying lane is ) item 3092 item 3165 item 3009 item 3157 item 3504 then a void staff or something like that. You could instead of getting the void get zzrots but I feel there's a better alternative for the tankiness (roa) and you are going to be with your team most of the time anyway so you won't be doing that much split pushing (assuming they don't suck)

But may I ask, why do you build zzrots over roa or zhonyas?

P.S. zhonyas allows you to flash q w r Zhonyas and 1 hit someone ^-^ :3 and stun their whole team.

Maximum Morde4/22/2016, 4:35:47 PM2 votes

I often build pretty AP bruiserish and don't need the Zhonyas, sometimes I do though. My core items tend to be Roa, Rylais, Liandries. Then from there it's all situational. Things like Spirit Visage, Zhonyas, Abyssal, Randuins, Sunfire, Ludens, Banshees, Deathcap, they are all on the table depending on the flow of the game. I'd say I end up with a Zhonyas about half the time.

Fondling Gems4/22/2016, 4:22:29 PM2 votes

Playstyle. Zhonya is good for teamfights. Your build is good for map control

ComeOnAndSlamJam4/22/2016, 4:37:37 PM2 votes

I play support Garen. Try that and compare the flaming levels you get kekekek

Trap Nap4/22/2016, 11:14:56 PM1 votes

The hourglass is just for the scare factor.

You flash and ult 5 of them, you pop it, they go "OH SHIT WE CAN'T STOP IT RUN AWAY, OR FLASH!"

Enemy team is in panic, you win fight because of it, and you didn't lose any HP.

Moisty Toast4/22/2016, 4:39:50 PM1 votes

Also, I feel I play her as more of a Support support rather than a Mage Support like brand/annie. I'm bad at mages usually :3 (Hence the name :P)

fasega4/22/2016, 5:01:12 PM1 votes

Use the play style your best at. Remember your team most likely has no idea what the bset builds are. If you see constant success with the build go for it because it's all about being useful to your team (especially as support) then trying to please ragers.

Afro Disco4/22/2016, 5:04:10 PM1 votes

We all have different strategies in building our champions. As Morg main, i use her in the mid lane (mostly) and if not lucky i play supp. ever since Zhonyas got too pricey, i dont prioritize building it or its optional.

As for mid, i got directly for Ludens since i can farm enough golds with Tormented Soil, then followed by Rylai's. If i am dominating the lane, i dont need Zhonyas, for i can rely on my Black Shield for the incoming damages. Also, when you have black shield you can engage in team fights and position better (with help of boots of swiftness) when they start running away from the Soul Shackles.
support on the other hand, I base Frostfang and Boots of Swiftness and go directly for Rylai's before completing frost queen. I dont need zhonya's knowing that my adc is behind me while im doing the poke and stuns.

Late game, you start melting HPs and Void Staff will help. If the enemy team is too tanky, that's when i decide to take Zhonyas. If not tanky, I go for Abyssal for more shredding. Again, i just rely on black shield when engaging. With boots of swiftness, flash, QW and Rylais, enemy team cant catch you when their HP starts shredding and your team is there for the clean-up.

So basically, im not saying to ditch zhonyas but go for knowing your position in game and start gauging your options. Morg, can just combo someone with Q and W all you need to do is chase, go for the slow with help of items and slowly follow them with your ult. Its annoying and brutal, basically its killing them softly, and you get to have some awesome play not just standing in stasis waiting for the enemy team to get away :)

CoolKnightST4/22/2016, 6:01:35 PM1 votes

To get started is item 3512 / item 3060 better for splitpush situation. While item 3157 is just better for teamfights.

With the item 3157 changes next patch (man it get's 500 gold cheaper & get's 10% cdr). Not to mention it builds out item 3108 than. Than I think will be the most suitable item on morgana support.

It might be possible that morgana becomes meta again:

I can see 2 variation on this build. The one where morgana takes 10% cdr from runes & masteries and get max cdr with that build. Or the one she doesn't take cdr and goes for AP bully runes & masteries while waiting for a 4th cdr item to reach 40%.

Moisty Toast4/22/2016, 4:36:09 PM1 votes

Thanks everyone! I can see everyone's points. I deff. feel now it's dependent on both team comps. If they're more split push, probably better to get the lane control. If they're more team fight, probably better for the higher AP/Zhonya build for fights. I think I'm going to try playing a more aggresive morgana support so I can have the practice when I do need to play that style.